This section has several links to virtual microscopes, "how to" videos, and a "parts of a scope" PowerPoint lecture, as well as a couple of worksheets and a link to an excellent website on the history of microscope discovery.
Microscope Parts
A basic PowerPoint lecture on the parts of a Light Microscope. Each part of the basic classroom microscope is identified and the purpose of it detailed. Original source of PowerPoint unknown. Microscope Mania is a worksheet that goes along really well with this PowerPoint.
The Univ. of Alberta also offers a really nice tutorial on the parts of the microscope. Students can use the interactive flash activity to label the parts of the microscope. Or they might want to look at the definitions of various microscope parts.
How To Use A Microscope: An interactive look at the parts of a microscope and how to work them. Website uses flash, so make sure computers are compatible. Offered as a free learning object by a website that also offers paid membership to numerous digital learning objects.
The Univ. of Alberta also offers a really nice tutorial on the parts of the microscope. Students can use the interactive flash activity to label the parts of the microscope. Or they might want to look at the definitions of various microscope parts.
How To Use A Microscope: An interactive look at the parts of a microscope and how to work them. Website uses flash, so make sure computers are compatible. Offered as a free learning object by a website that also offers paid membership to numerous digital learning objects.
Microscope Basics
Molecular Expression - Basic Concepts in Microscopy: This website breaks down each conceptual part of microscopy into easy to understand descriptions. Topics include magnification, optics, illumination, oculars, stages, and cleaning and care of a microscope.
Using a Microscope
An introduction to using Stereoscopic and Compound Microscopes. Videos are by Athabasca Univ. and are hosted on YouTube.
Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 Each part is about ten minutes long, and very comprehensive.
Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 Each part is about ten minutes long, and very comprehensive.
Interactive Microscopes
Explore Magnification with Molecular Expression's java powered activity. A really simple and easy to use website with clear instructions. Just make sure student computers have the necessary java installed.
KBears Virtual Microscope: A real basic interactive site, that is easy to navigate. Definitely good for a brief introduction to using online microscopes. Also good for any special ed learners who need things that don't have a lot of distractions.
Univ. of Delaware: Another basic interactive site, where students can pick a few slides and "adjust" the virtual microscope to bring them into focus. Again, a good introductory website, that is also fairly simple and lacking distractions.
Molecular Expressions - Optical Microscopy Primer: A really neat, interactive website with over a dozen different types of microscopes that students can look at, and numerous slides for each type. This website could easily keep learners busy for 20-30 minutes, and some might find the plentiful options distracting or hard to choose from.
KBears Virtual Microscope: A real basic interactive site, that is easy to navigate. Definitely good for a brief introduction to using online microscopes. Also good for any special ed learners who need things that don't have a lot of distractions.
Univ. of Delaware: Another basic interactive site, where students can pick a few slides and "adjust" the virtual microscope to bring them into focus. Again, a good introductory website, that is also fairly simple and lacking distractions.
Molecular Expressions - Optical Microscopy Primer: A really neat, interactive website with over a dozen different types of microscopes that students can look at, and numerous slides for each type. This website could easily keep learners busy for 20-30 minutes, and some might find the plentiful options distracting or hard to choose from.
Handout and Worksheets
Focus On Scopes is a really simple handout that students can use to draw what they see, either in a real scope view or while looking at one of the interactive microscope websites.
If you have students that like to color, then this Microscope Coloring page might be a good addition to your lesson plans. It's real simple, and has two different types of scopes that students can color.
In need of something very basic to use for introducing students to a microscope? Then this worksheet created by Laura Candler might be a good place to start. It has very simple directions for using a compound microscope. She also offers a microscope pictures worksheet for students to draw objects viewed through a scope.
If you have students that like to color, then this Microscope Coloring page might be a good addition to your lesson plans. It's real simple, and has two different types of scopes that students can color.
In need of something very basic to use for introducing students to a microscope? Then this worksheet created by Laura Candler might be a good place to start. It has very simple directions for using a compound microscope. She also offers a microscope pictures worksheet for students to draw objects viewed through a scope.
Timelines of Discovery
A timeline of major events in microscopes and related discoveries. Molecular Expressions is a really good website put together by Florida State Univ. It is easily a good site to recommend for student research on discovering in various time periods.
Time Periods include:
Time Periods include:
Also make sure to check out the Museum of Microscopy from Molecular Expressions. They have it broken down into time periods, and have a ton of really nice images. Definitely good for assisting students in understanding that what they use now isn't always what scientists have had to work with.
* 16th and 17th Century
* 18th Century
* 19th Century
* 20th Century
Microscopes - Then and Now: A brief PowerPoint presentation I created to assist students in understanding how microscopes have changed over the centuries by comparing it to the original cell phone v cell phones of today. A really good intro before sending them to the Museum of Microscopy website and having them do research on a particular time period.
* 16th and 17th Century
* 18th Century
* 19th Century
* 20th Century
Microscopes - Then and Now: A brief PowerPoint presentation I created to assist students in understanding how microscopes have changed over the centuries by comparing it to the original cell phone v cell phones of today. A really good intro before sending them to the Museum of Microscopy website and having them do research on a particular time period.
Student Activities and Labs
Exploring Microscopes: A real simple activity that uses simple and easy to obtain materials. Materials needed are a slide, wax pencil, an eye dropper, a magnifying glass, an ultrascope, a source of light and newsprint or comics. With this activity, students can see varying levels of magnification from a drop of water, a magnifying glass and a scope.